This year’s Summer Jazz Club reaches its grande finale on 18 August when the stage is taken by Grímsey, led by Finnish-Icelandic guitarist Matti Saarinen, and the host Antti Lähdesmäki’s new quartet. The concert series will return next summer with something new up its sleeve again.
Grímsey, started in winter 2015, play their leader Matti Saarinen’s compositions that challenge traditional genre notions. Indeed, Grímsey’s sound is characteristed by chamber orchestra-influenced interaction and rhythmic flow. The members – who come from widely different musical backgrounds, including the traditions of jazz, rock, classical, electronic and avant-garde – have studied and performed, when added up, in every European country. These aspects naturally add a distinctive flavour to the group’s sound. Their debut album was recorded in July and is due to come out later this year.
Grímsey
Matti Saarinen, guitar
Jarno Lappalainen, bass
Joonas Leppänen, drums
Antti Lähdesmäki himself gets finally to leave his host’s duties for a moment and climb onto the stage with his brand new quartet. Antti Lähdesmäki 4 plays music that is European at the core but borrows from classical music, free jazz and even traditional American jazz. Another distinctive element is the group’s instrumentation: instead of the usual trumpet or saxophone as the solo instrument Antti Lähdesmäki 4 features the flute. With experience and acclaim in both jazz and classical music, flautist Juho Valjakka has won, for instance, the audience’s award in the Gluck flute contest. As to the rhythm section, both bassist Juuso Rinta and drummer Teemu Mustonen will be playing on their home ground, being pupils of Jyväskylä Coservatory – and Poppari.
Antti Lähdesmäki 4
Juho Valjakka, flute
Antti Lähdesmäki, piano
Juuso Rinta, bass
Teemu Mustonen, drums
Summer Jazz Club pre-tickets and other products are available for purchase on http://mesenaatti.me/summer-jazz-club/. By buying the products you support the future of Finnish jazz.
Tickets 8/5 €. Ticket sale at the door at 8:30PM. Showtime at 9:00PM.
Summer Jazz Club is supported by the Finnish Music Foundation.